Much of the offseason and again this spring, Red Sox center fielder Coco Crispwas whispered to be an A's target.

Crisp, who is playing against Oakland during Boston's season-opening series in Japan, has heard all the rumors. There are so many that he doesn't pay much attention.

"Over the course of my career, I've heard a lot of rumors about places I might go, and I thought I might get traded," Crisp said. "Nothing ever happens, except when I came over from Cleveland (in 2006). So I'll wait and see, but I won't think about it much."

With the A's and Red Sox playing here in Tokyo and again in Oakland next week, perhaps Crisp could take a leisurely stroll from one clubhouse to the other if a deal happened.

"Maybe so," he said with a laugh. "I've heard a couple of things. Chicago, Oakland, the other Chicago, San Diego."

Crisp was limited this spring by a slight groin strain, but he's healthy now, he said, and he has gone 3-for-6 since returning. Even though the Red Sox have discussed moving him since Jacoby Ellsbury's emergence during the postseason, the price tag is still expected to be pretty steep for Crisp in terms of prospects, and it's not clear if a youth-movement team such as Oakland would part with much young talent for an older, more expensive player.

The A's haven't appeared to settle on an every day center fielder, running out Chris Denorfiaand Ryan Sweeney in equal measure lately, and there's a chance that Carlos Gonzalez, acquired in the Dan Harendeal with Arizona, will join the roster for the home opener April 1.

Roster set: The A's announced their Opening Day roster this morning, selecting DH Mike Sweeneyand putting reliever Kiko Caleroon the 60-day disabled list in order make room for Sweeney on the 40-man roster. Sweeney's big-league contract is $500,000, but it is incentive-heavy.

Infielder Gregorio Petitwas optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, which means that outfielder Jeff Fiorentinois on the big-league club for the Boston series in Tokyo.

The three ineligible players for the series are starters Justin Duchschererand Dana Evelandand Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who remained in Phoenix with a hamstring strain, will rejoin the team for the Bay Bridge series this weekend. Harden gets second game: Rich Hardentakes the ball against Boston on Wednesday, his first start since July 7, and only his 14th start since the end of the 2005 season.

Though he has missed much of the past three seasons with injuries, Harden demonstrated full health all spring, to the point where pitching coach Curt Youngsaid, "The health thing, really we're past that. The arm strength is there, and so is the quality."

Now here Harden is in Japan, a place he long has wanted to visit, and facing Boston's Jon Lesterin the second and final game of the series.

"It's definitely got a different feel to it," Harden said. "It doesn't feel like a regular-season game, in a different stadium in a different country. But usually your first start feels different anyway. It's always exciting."